WASHINGTON (NEWS10) – The First Amendment protects free speech even when groups of people may find a message offensive.

Protests seeking to shut down controversial speakers turned violent on several college campuses. Now universities are being forced to spend big bucks to secure certain events.

“How can we secure this constitutional right while also making sure universities where everyone can feel safe?” Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said.

The Senate Education Committee heard from university officials and other experts about free speech on campus.

“Political life and discourse in the united states is at a boiling point and nowhere is the reaction to that more heightened than on college campuses,” Richard Cohen, of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said.

During the hearing, Democrats blamed President Trump for fueling discord.

“Today in America we have a president to every day, day after day attacks the free press in America,” Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said.